Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-13
A MILLIONAIRE BREWER
GEORGE EHRET SEEN AT THE
AKRON BALL.

How he Started Carl Thesis on tho
Highway to Fortune Via His Concert
Garden-How the Two Nj en- Have Been
Hounded by Cut-Throats Masked %
Workmen - some Other Wealthy
Brewers.
NEW YORK, March 12.-Conspicuous at
the late Arion ball was q short, sturdy
man, partly bald and wearing a silvery
moustache. be was about 63 years DID,
His face was florid, his features we're
massive, his eyebrows white aud shaggy,
and bis eyes blue and deep-set. He wore
no jewelry, and was altired in plain
dress suit, with an od-fashioned turn
down collar. He looked like hard
woI king German farmer moving In select
society. A bevy OF middle-aged ladies'.
robed plainly but with exquisite taste,
occupied his box. Hestood behind them,
gazing at the masquerade and receiving
the friends who called at the box with
bluff but hearty hospitality. In the little
anieroom adjoining stood tiny table
covered with cut-glass ware. Bottles OF
wine stood In coolers beneath IL, ana tue
frequent popping OF c0rks reached tne
ears OF those In the crowded corrldor.
the old gentleman was and 10, proOably,
t0e richest GeThlau III tnc NitJ w NC"
York. He came here forty years ago,
poor boy, ignorant Of our language,
Manners and customs, and without
friends. To-day he pays each year seven
times the salary oil the President OF the
Unit; Il States III business taxes. Ills
generosity has kept pace with his wealth.
a 1t Is true benevolcnce, for " Is unobtru.
sivc, ana xcepL IN isolated cases, Is MT
know n even among his intimate friends
The face OF It's dispenser is as genial as
the face OF Uncle Josh Whitcomb. 1t 10
- face OF George Bhret, the brewer.
ror months his beer WAS unjustly boy
cotted BY the Central Labor Union. the
story OF the boycott is worth repeating:
CARL THESIS VENTURE.
Fifteen years ago Carl Thesis, now a
notorious German. kent cheap restau-
RAM down town. His boyhood had been
sbent IN Berlin and Vienna. He had be
enrloyed in the immense concert gar
dens In those cities, where beer flowed
like water while the air was filled with
atrains of the best instrumental music.
Thesis foresaw great future for such
gardens m New York. He ached to be
the owner and superintendent of one,
but he had no money. Chance threw MIN
into the way OF George Enret. To him ne
unfolded MS rlans. Ehret f0resaw many
difficulties in the way, hut was finally IN
duce6 10 put up over Sl0O,Oo0 'or the es-
tablisbin Mt Of a garden. A central spot
on Fourteenth street was selected. Ine
capital Was spent in fitting up spacious
building, and the hall was opened to the
public. Thesis at frst follow the Gus
tom In German cities, and made no charge
for admission. For six months his pa
irons WI re almost exclusively German.
The good burghers brought their families
with them and enjoyed the beer and
music TO their hearts, content Grad
rl.
sort for the fast young men and women OF
the metropolis. The old Germans we're
slowly being weeded out much to
Theiss' cha grin. At first he made a fight
against tue flood OF immortality. he
charged an admission fec OF Doc, fancying
that this would stem tue tide. To AID IL,
he himself stood at the door and admitted
free his old and respectable patrons. The
scheme, however. did not work. The adj
mission fee served only to whet the appe-
titles of the soiled doves and their mates,
and the garden finally became as Obnox-
ious as the Haymarket and the Bucking-
ham. Worse than all, institutions equally
as bad sprahg up omeach side OF II, and
the entire quarter became contaminated.
Thesis stopped catering for the old CIR
man element, and went in for what he
GOULD make out of lis successor. For
long time the quasi-respectablity OF the
garden served TO allure unsuspcious
women and others who loved music, and
wto fell an easy prey t. those who fatten
oil crime. The music was OF the first
quality. Thesis WAS growing rich. he
had amassed nearly enough money TO
paw of his indebte dness TO Ehret, when
c. stOrm gathered on the nor Zon. man,
not q mem Der Of the Musicians Pr0tec-
tive Assoc tation. began 10 blow flute IN
the orchestra The association demanded
his discharge. Thesis refused, ard the
his N ThpiGa
stood out for Six weeks, and then sought
peace. owing TO the pressure put on Ehret
by the IaeOr unions, who had discovered
that be held mortgage on the place. TGe
,ultimatum OF the Protective Association
required that Thesis should pay the OK
pense of The boy colt. $1,000. He protested
second time, but finally, by Enrets adj
vice, paid the money.
THE REvENGETUL SOCIALISTS.
About this time the great strike of the
car drivers occurred. Property was de
stroy ed AID men were mobbed in various
parts OF the city. The Socialists secured
aepartial control OF the labor unions, and
business men began to evince uneasiness.
Tho authorities determined 10 deaden the
agi alton by a few prosecutions. Herr
Must end some of his c0nfreres were sen,
10 the penitentiary, and the Landgraf
boycotters became entangled in the
snares OF the law. The grand jury, al
employers. Indicted the committee who
received Thiess' $1,000 Tor blackmail.
The District Attorney promptly plac
its mtr bcrs on thai. His most eloquent
assistept dashed them unmerciulIy. Tue
men were convicted by a jury of en-
ployers on tho testimony OF George
C-Ehref, who ack nowledg ed that he had adj.
vised Thesis TO pay the money. In an Ia
slant tho trade unions were in arms
against Ehret. Vaiuly he pleaded his in
nOcerv intent. Repeated proofs or his
friendship for wOrkingmen's organiza-
tions we're shown without avail. The
fact that no had been placed upon the
stand against his will had no effect. TIE
laborers seemed TO THINK that he ougnt
either 10 have peTjured himselfo or have left
tie city. In body they boycotied him.
THIS al nine mouths ago. The effect on
the CIG Germans business was disSs-
troue, tut he preserved his equanimItv,
trusting that time would convince dhe
4 tTsd" uuiUrs that he had beer trea ed
urjuf,iy. lis friends and his employees,
al Iieuhors Of trade uniuns, were active
IN biz behalf, and he had much new spa.
per Sympathy. A few unions mad with
dra1e the boycott, when tue heat OF the
}eorse Campaign destroyed The tendency
award tho Old man justice. AIT r
IA auecrge's defeat repeated efforts TO remove
IL 1t were deieaied IN the Central Labor
HD rTuif.r nv GnnioIiota Tna,r